Short Summary

General Charles de Gaulle, President of France, arrived in Buenos Aires on a goodwill mission Saturday (3 October) and found himself in the midst of a roaring political demonstration.

Description

General Charles de Gaulle, President of France, arrived in Buenos Aires on a goodwill mission Saturday (3 October) and found himself in the midst of a roaring political demonstration. Thousands of supporters of former Dictator Juan D. Peron massed along his route and chanted, sang and heckled the appearance of General De Gaulle and Argentine President Arturo U. Illia.

The heckling began the moment General De Gaulle appeared and followed him and President Illia from the airport to Haza Francia. The 73-year-old French President appeared annoyed and restless at shouts of "Peron, Peron". Dr. Illia was pale and silent during the ride. Whistling and shouting drowned out welcoming speeched and several times President De Gaulle held up his arms in an effort to achieve silence.

From the reception in the square, where he received the key to the city, General De Gaulle went to Government House, also known as Casa Rosada, or Pink House. There he was presented to the diplomatic corps. He also addressed Congress, urging a closer alliance between France and Latin America.

In presenting the French President to Congress, Vice President Arturo H. Perette stressed Argentina's friendship with the United States and praised the late U.S. President Kennedy's efforts to ??? poverty, hunger and illiteracy from the Western Hemisphere.

This was the first time on the French leader's tour of South America that he has been caught in a domestic political dispute.

President de Gaulle, accompanied by Premier Debre, went to Orly airport, Paris, June 22 to greet President Frondizi of Argentina - currently making tour of European capitals - on his arrival from Rome.